Image:Luke Shaw claps the fans following Manchester United's win over CSKA Moscow
It had been 219 days since Luke Shaw started a first-team match for Manchester United and even then he only managed nine minutes before going off injured against Swansea.
The 22-year-old left-back, signed from Southampton in a £27m deal in the summer of 2014, lasted rather longer than that in the 2-1 Champions League win over CSKA Moscow on Tuesday.
But how did he get on? Here, we assess his involvement in detail, get expert views and check the stats to give you the lowdown on his performance…
Image:Shaw's touch map in Manchester United's win over CSKA Moscow
As it happened
6 – The ball breaks to Shaw with the left-back well placed at the far post. He takes a touch to steady himself before drilling in a low shot that is blocked.
16 –Shaw embarks on a driving run towards the CSKA Moscow goal and eludes a couple of challenges before being crowded out on the edge of the box.
20 –A sweetly struck volley by Shaw at the far post is well saved by Igor Akinfeev and Romelu Lukaku is unable to force home the rebound from close range.
22 –Shaw shows great pace to run in behind his marker and reach Paul Pogba’s slide-rule pass but he slightly misdirects the cross and the chance is gone.
31 – Shaw concedes a corner as he does well to cut out a looping cross to the far post. His attempt to nod the ball back to Sergio Romero goes out of play.
37 – Juan Mata’s stray pass inside his own box puts Shaw in trouble but the defender times his tackle well to remove the danger. Risky but well executed.
40 –Shaw is required again to snuff out the threat. His sliding tackle inside the box ensures that United get away with only conceding a corner.
45 –CSKA Moscow take the lead. Shaw is partially culpable as Mario Fernandes runs in behind him down the flank and the ball ends up in the net through Alan Dzagoev.
54 – Roars of approval from the home fans as Shaw dinks the ball over his marker before winning a corner as his cross is deflected behind.
55 –Clever lofted ball from Shaw into the left channel puts Mata in behind and his cross is met by Chris Smalling but the defender heads just wide.
77 –Shaw goes down seemingly feeling the effects of cramp as the exertions of his first game in seven months begin to take their toll on him.
Image:Shaw went down with cramp late on and was tended to by Paul Pogba
Key stats
Shaw made five clearances in the match – all of them coming before the break. The most by any Manchester United player.
No United player had more touches inside the opposition box than Shaw’s four in the first half – twice as many as Romelu Lukaku.
The manager's verdict
Jose Mourinho: "Very, very positive performance, especially with the ball going forward. Really dangerous, creating a lot, great intensity in his game. No surprise that in minute 80 he is feeling the consequences of that intensity (by suffering cramp). It is normal, the first match of the season for him, but he was deserving of that opportunity for quite a long time. And he's going to get more because the performance was really positive."
Tony Cottee: "[He had an] excellent game. He got cramp towards the last 10 minutes but you would expect that as he has had so little football. He is a good football player, he is quick as anything and has a fantastic left foot. He gives them a real option going forward and he has got to be in the manager's mind now. The problem he has got is that Ashley Young has been playing really well in that left-back position but it was a good performance."